A Stand Up Paddle can be a way to enjoy the water, explore nature from a new perspective, keep fit and have an infinite number of fun ways alone, with friends and with the whole family. If it is true that Sup is an activity that can be practiced all year round, it is also true that summer and the beautiful season are the best time to fully enjoy a paddle board. Think of the beauty of getting away from the crowded beaches to explore small coves and inlets, enjoy a sunset over the sea or explore mountain lakes and incredible waterways. A paddleboard can open up a whole new world of natural landscapes that can be experienced from a completely different point of view. Standing while rowing, you can see things that are hard to appreciate any other way.

However, given the numerous possibilities that a paddleboard offers and the ease of use, it must be said that the obstacle of the size of a SUP is often insurmountable for many. A rigid sup is not a really comfortable object to handle and transport, not to mention storage. Those who live in the city or even just half an hour from the sea or lake very often give up due to lack of space at home and the difficulty of transporting it by car.

Fortunately, to overcome these problems there are inflatable SUPs that can be easily stored in a medium-sized backpack and are therefore incredibly comfortable and easy to carry. But are they even good?

The doubt of many is that an inflatable SUP is just a toy for children or little more. The prejudice regarding inflatables is quite widespread, due in part to the presence on the market of products that are far too cheap and poorly performing, and to the fact that until a few years ago inflatables were not what they are today. Yes, because today there are inflatable SUPs of excellent quality that are able to make you not regret a rigid SUP, especially in certain conditions. Not to mention the fact that in terms of some characteristics, first of all stability, inflatable SUPs are even better than rigid SUPs!

At this point the doubt remains on how to choose an inflatable Sup and what are the characteristics that should be taken into consideration before buying.

Technology and materials of inflatable SUPs

Not all inflatable SUPs are created equal. There are major differences in the materials and construction methods used in inflatable paddle boards. Without going too far into the different materials and technologies used, it is at least important to know that there are two main construction types: single layer and double layer.

Single Layer boards are made with a single layer of material. These inflatable paddle boards will tend to be lightweight and cheap, but also less stiff. To compensate for the lower stiffness of using a single panel, they are often thicker.

Double Layer boards have a sturdier construction but also heavier and more expensive. These boards have a second layer of reinforced PVC fabric bonded to the main layer. Double Layer boards are less common both due to the higher cost and the general tendency to seek lightness. However the additional layer gives more stiffness, strength and durability to the board.

Finally, there is a third type of Stand Up Paddle with a structure defined as "fusion". These are Single Layer Paddle Boards which have an additional reinforcement in the material. Sort of a compromise to keep both weight and cost down, but still get good durability and stiffness for most conditions.

In principle, a single layer board is more than sufficient for a first Sup. Double layer boards are recommended for those looking for better performance, especially in waves, in particular conditions (wind, chop...) or in the case of very, very heavy riders.

Types of Stand Up Paddle

Inflatable Sup, like rigid Sup, are not all the same. There are models that favor stability, others that favor handling, some are more suitable for use at sea, others in rivers. To choose a board that suits your needs, the important thing is, as always, to understand what we are looking for in a paddle board and how we imagine using it.

Allround SUP They are sup with a rounded and nice wide nose. The length varies between 9 and 10.8 feet and the width between 32 and 34 inches. They are boards optimized to offer the right compromise between handling and stability. They are the most versatile models, designed to work in most conditions, obviously without excelling in any. Generally they are the best choice as a first sup, when the goal is simply to take a board and paddle ... then the rest will come by itself!

Touring SUPs are sups with a slightly more elongated shape, with a pointed nose and adapted to paddling over long distances when efficient planing is more important than maneuverability. The length is typically between 11.6 and 12.6, while the width is 31 or 32 inches. They can be fine as a first Paddle as long as you choose a model that is still wide enough, if you plan to use it for hiking, exploring the coast and you don't scare hours and hours of paddling!

Racing SUPs are racing boards, up to 14 feet or more long and less than 30 inches wide, with a pointed nose and tail. Designed to reach maximum speed. They are not suitable as a first Stand Up Paddle

Surf SUP Well yes, even with an inflatable Sup you can surf. Maybe without going to the extreme, but today technology makes it possible to obtain inflatable SUPs that are rigid and performing enough to have fun even on the waves. These are paddle boards quite similar to Allround boards, with a rounded and wide nose, but a little shorter (even less than 9 feet) and easier to handle. They should also have more stiffness. On the other hand, a smaller board and therefore with less volume can be a little too unstable at the beginning, furthermore the paddling is less effective.

• Whitewater SUPs are boards suitable for use on rivers and can also tackle some rapids or river waves.
• Yoga SUPs are wide and stable SUPs like allround sups and with a long and soft pad deck.
• Fishing SUP Fishing paddles are as wide and stable as allround sups and can have a variety of attachments to hold fishing rods and other gear.

Not to mention the SUP Windsurf and Sup foiling models

As a first SUP we strongly recommend choosing an Allround or at least a Touring model. However, the Allround models are also suitable for Touring, Surfing and Yoga. The difference is that with a multipurpose model it will be possible to try out the various disciplines more easily.

Choose the size of the inflatable Sup

Once you've chosen a paddle board category, you'll still need to decide which board is best for you and your needs. This is where factors like your weight, fitness level and preferences come into play.

As a general rule, bigger and heavier paddlers should paddle bigger boards. The reference value to keep in mind is that of the liters in the table.

SUP VOLUME = YOUR WEIGHT x 2 or more (if you are a beginner) So at least 140 liters if you are 70kg.

The multiplier can go below 2 (even reaching just over one) in the case of very experienced paddlers and for use in specific disciplines.

In the case of inflatable SUPs, you generally have to deal with much larger volumes, even with the same length and width with a rigid board.

But, in addition to liters, there are many other nuances to consider regarding the shape and size of the board. Here are some general principles to get you started on understanding how the size and shape of a board affect its performance:

A longer board will have more glide than a shorter one.

A narrower board will be faster than a wider board, but also less stable

A wider board will be more stable than a narrower board.

Boards with a wider tail will be more stable than narrow tail boards.

Boards with a narrow tail will spin more quickly during surf maneuvers

In any case, to buy your board it is important to refer to the specifications of the model you have chosen, where the recommended size is usually indicated based on the weight of the rider.

Just to give a couple of examples, here are some fairly common sizes for inflatable SUPs:

Allround 10.4/10.6 X 33 X 5.5 (for riders up to 95-100 kg)

Touring 12.6 X 32 X 6 (for riders up to 100-110 kg)

The Fin system

Often underestimated, the fin system is a fundamental element to be carefully evaluated.

In particular, the first difference is between integrated or removable fins. It goes without saying that removable fins offer more possibilities as you can always replace them with a stiffer or larger or smaller model if you feel the need.

The second issue concerns the number of fins. Very often there is only one scassa, for a fairly large central fin. Some models mount 3 fins with two side fins that offer greater stabilization. Models with 2 or 4 fins are rarer.

Conclusions: which inflatable sup to choose

After seeing what are the aspects to consider when choosing an inflatable sup, here is our advice.

As your first inflatable SUP choose a single layer Allround SUP. Being single layer, we advise you not to save excessively on the price and perhaps avoid super low-cost products, but you don't even need to spend $1000. There are excellent inflatable Sup packages that are very good and include a paddle, a pump and a bag that cost around $300 (a little more or less).

Take a look at the inflatable sup for sale online in our shop and chat with us if you need advice!

We recommend looking for something more performing for those who think of using it to catch a few waves, and then stiffness becomes an important factor, or to use it at sea even with a little wind and chop.